Federal maternal health bill directs $190M to CDC for emergency data

What does this do?

This bill would direct federal money to the CDC and National Institutes of Health to track how health emergencies affect pregnant and postpartum people and study what keeps them safe. It would create a task force to develop care recommendations covering telehealth, mental health, doulas, midwives, domestic violence screening, and bias in maternity care. The CDC would also be required to run public education campaigns and post regularly updated data on its website, broken down by race, income, location, and other factors.

Who does it affect?

Pregnant women and new mothers would be most directly affected, especially those from communities that already face higher rates of pregnancy-related death or complications, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and people in rural or underserved areas. Health care providers, hospitals, midwives, doulas, and state and tribal health agencies would also be affected by new data requirements and care recommendations.

Why does it matter?

Without consistent data and care standards, gaps in maternity care during emergencies can go unnoticed or unaddressed. Tracking outcomes across different groups would make those gaps visible and help inform future responses.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• ~$190M authorized
• CDC & NIH funded